Kicking Off a New Year with Transitioning

Welcome to the 2011! I know many of you are still enjoying your winter break and haven't begun to think about your life back on campus just yet. But I wanted to prepare you with some things to think about for when you do start again - as a student and as a leader in your chapter/colony.

Many of the chapters elected new consuls and executive boards for the year - congrats to our newest chapter and colony leaders! What is your plan for transitioning into your new positions? What materials have been passed on - with a context to understand them - so you can use them to avoid mistakes and make good decisions? What are the goals you have for the year - and how do you plan to measure them?

That's a lot of questions, I know. But these are just the tip of the iceberg. Any leader will tell you that there are so many good intentions when starting in a new leadership role, but so few resources. So find some resources!

• Do you have a transition plan? We sometimes assume that people elected into positions have natural abilities to know their jobs the first day. But my experience has shown that people need a little more coaching than that. Pick a day when your new executive board can meet - hopefully within the first couple of weeks of the new semester if not sooner - so you can talk about strengths, challenges and goals within the board. If you can invite previous exec board members, the better. If not, at least get their comments in an email about what challenges they faced and what goals were not met as a board.
• Do you have a binder? I've seen the same binder passed from exec to exec, in some chapters, without any editing or time-line, so that each time the new person gets the binder it just keeps on growing. A new binder is purchased but nothing is ever thrown out. Each exec should take the time to put together a binder that is actually useful! It can be divided in any number of ways: responsibilities, monthly, projects, etc. If you find something that looks like trash, throw it out. Or put it in a box to be archived in case you fear you might need it later. But if you don't within the year, toss it. Whatever you do, make sure you create a time line for your binder, so whoever looks at it next knows what to look for, and when.
  
• Have you set goals? Wanting to be a 'good chapter' and recruit 'solid guys' are what we all want - but how are you going to do it? Who is going to be responsible for each part? How will you track progress? Use the SMART Goals model and make sure that all of your executive board members have an action plan - to help him organize his work and help you track his progress (or lack thereof). Plus the goals help you decide as a group how to set up your finances - are you saving money now in case you need it later? What are your goals for paying off back debt?
  

Even if you have elections for new officers later in the semester, you can revisit your goals and finances now for the next semester. And start planning your transition for later in the semester.

If you do any one of the ideas above, you will have effectively changed the culture of your chapter or colony. Add in one new step a year and newly elected officers years from now won't remember a time when they weren't doing transitions. As always, if you have questions about leadership, let me know.

Enjoy what time off you have before the semester starts - you're going to be busy!